Eddie Kuo, founding Dean of NTU Wee Kim Wee School of Communication & Information, dies aged 85

Eddie Kuo, the Founding Dean and Emeritus Professor of Nanyang Technological University's (NTU) Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WKWSCI), died aged 85 on Mar. 23, 2026.

In a Facebook post on the same day, WKWSCI called Kuo a "pivotal figure" who shaped the School in its earliest years, adding that he "laid the groundwork for its growth into a leading centre for communication and media studies".

Lasting legacy

The post read: "His contributions to NTU and to the development of communication as a discipline in Singapore have left a lasting legacy.

"He will be remembered with great respect and affection and will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him."

Noting that Kuo helped establish WKWSCI as a leading institution in Asia, Emeritus Professor at NTU Ang Peng Hwa, who succeeded Kuo as Dean of WKWSCI, said he was saddened to hear of Kuo's passing, CNA reported.

Kuo created an environment where ideas could be explored seriously and respectfully, Ang said, adding that he defended both faculty and students when they were accused of being "overly critical".

Distinguished academic

Calling Kuo a "pioneer in communications and media studies, and a distinguished academic who played a key role in shaping the field and mentoring generations of students", Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing said Kuo "helped strengthen our understanding of multiculturalism and the importance of cultural roots in a rapidly changing world".

Not only was Kuo a "kind and gentle person", he was "effectively bilingual and a good scholar", said former Permanent Representative to the United Nations Tommy Koh.

Koh noted that Kuo was "an expert in the field of journalism and communications".

"NUS, NTU and SUSS have all benefited from his knowledge and wisdom," said Koh.

Gave a sense of direction

Academic Cherian George said in a Facebook post that Kuo changed the course of his life.

George recounted how Kuo advised him to apply to Stanford University when he was thinking of doing a PhD programme, and later invited him to teach a class.

"Prof. Kuo's belief in me gave me a sense of direction," George said.

"He was a champion of building scholarship about, for, and by Asia. He walked the talk, and opened a path for people like me."

Visionary scholar

Known as a "visionary scholar and foundational figure in Singapore's academic landscape", the National University of Singapore's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences said in its Facebook post that Kuo was previously head of the university's sociology department and director of its mass communication programme.

The post read: "His intellectual contributions and deep commitment to understanding Singapore’s society, language and media have left an indelible mark across institutions over generations," it said.

"We join the wider community in honouring his legacy as an educator, public intellectual and a true 'pioneer' of the humanities and social sciences in Singapore."

Significant contributions

Kuo was also "a respected academic who made significant contributions to the study of language policy and national integration, as well as to the sociology of multilingualism and communication studies", said the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), where Kuo was an honorary advisor for the Centre for Chinese Studies (CCS).

It added in its Facebook post that in recent years, he also championed the concept of "Cultural China", which has "guided and enriched the work of the CCS".

Kuo was a strong advocate of the SUSS Student Care Fund since its inception, which provides critical financial assistance to students facing sudden hardship arising from unexpected life circumstances, SUSS said.

It added that Kuo also contributed to the Eddie Kuo Fund for Chinese Studies, which advances the study and appreciation of Chinese language, literature, culture and the arts in Singapore and the region.

Top photo via Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information/Facebook